As EMS continues to struggle with recruitment and retention, current providers face long hours amid mandatory overtime shifts and short-staffed rigs.
In a recent poll, we asked EMS1 readers their preferred length of a single shift, ranging from 8-48 hours. Tied with the most votes at 36% out of more than 700 participants, EMS1 members prefer 12 or 24 hours shifts the most, followed by 48-hour shifts at 17% and 8-hour shifts at 8%. Only 3% of respondents said they preferred a different shift length to those listed.
What EMS1 readers are saying
“24/48’s. Loved it for 30 years!”
“24/48 but I’d take 24/72 if you keep my annual the same.”
“24-hour shift, hands down.”
“Any shift schedule that doesn’t have you working EVERY WEEKEND!”
“48/96.”
“To all the nerds and 9-5 office jockeys that want to encourage legislators to mandate 12s or less … Are you gonna find us $50+ bucks per hour to make it? The current rates won’t do it in most places.”
“12-hour straight days if at a very busy urban system, otherwise 24/72.”
Additional resources
- How to say no to an overtime request
- Looking to increase your ranks? Improve providers’ work-life balance
- Tactical napping: An EMS bedtime story
- 5 EMS tips for a work-life balance
- The ‘F’ word in public safety
- 5 evidence-based guidelines for fatigue management in EMS
